Outdoor Playground Games From Your Childhood

There is almost nothing a child loves more than playing some fun outdoor playground games. The following is a look at some fun playground games that any kid can play:

SPUD

For this game you need a group of kids, and you number them, each a different number. Then designate a player to be “It.” Then have everyone stand together with one foot on a single base. The “It” player is going to call out a number, and then throw a soft ball high in the air. As soon as the ball is thrown, the players must scatter. The player who’s number is called has to get to the ball. When they grab the ball they shout “Spud!” As soon as they do, everyone must freeze where they are. The player with the ball then gets to take 2 giant steps toward another player, and throws the ball trying to hit another player. The other player may dodge the ball, but can’t move their feet. Or, they can try to catch the ball. If they catch the ball or successfully evade it, the thrower gets an S. The person who is the target is assigned the letter if they are hit. Whoever earns the letter becomes “It”, and they get to start. If you earn all four letters to spell out Spud, you are eliminated. The last person in the game wins.

Fugitives

This is like red light green light, with a little twist. Basically you choose one person to play detective, and the others are the fugitives. The detective stands about 50 feet away from the fugitives, and turns their back to them. They then yell, “Out of jail.” The fugitives advance forward as quietly and quickly as possible with the attempt to steal from the detective. The detective should have an item at their feet that is the object they are attempting to steal. It can be a ball, a bat, a sweater, etc. The detective can turn around whenever they want and yell Freeze. The fugitives have to stop, any that are caught moving must sit where they are, and are in “jail” until the end of the round. The fugitive to successfully steal the item wins the round and becomes the detective.

Steal the Bacon:

For this game you need two equal teams, and you must line them up to face each other, standing with about 15 feet between the two lines, and five feet between each player in line. Count off the players in opposite directions. This way the “One” in the first line is diagonal from the “one” in the second line. Then, play an object “the bacon” in the center of the space between the two lines. Then have one person who is not from either team be the caller. They start the game by calling out a number. The people with that number (one person from each team), race to grab the “bacon” and get back to their place without being tagged by the opposing player. If the player successfully gets the “bacon” and gets back to position without being tagged, they score a point, and switch places with the caller, and a new round ensues. You play to 15. If they do not make it home, no point is scored, and you move on to another round.